Russia: ASF contaminated pork found again

The presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus was recently discovered in a shipment of pork products, which has been sold without veterinary permits in the Leningrad region, reported the regional department of Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor).

Pig fat, boiled-smoked sausages and pork delicatessen , in total 55 kilograms, has been sold in the Kirovsk city, Leningrad region.

“Unauthorised trading has been carried out by a person who did not have the right to sell livestock products to private customers, with no veterinary documents for the products,” said the statement.

In the research conducted in the regional veterinary laboratory, it was found that the products had the genetic sequence of the ASF virus. But in order to confirm that the meat is infected, it was also necessary to conduct further research on the DNA isolation of the virus.

“During the second study of the samples taken from the shipment of boiled-smoked sausages and pork delicacy sold in Kirovsk city, the presence of the virus genome of ASF in the products was confirmed,” the statement said.

The dangerous products have already been destroyed, and the trading place has been fenced and disinfected. Now the veterinary services are trying to figure out where the meat was produced, which is also necessary to prevent the further outbreaks of ASF.

This is the third case this year of ASF contaminated pork on the market. The first case was recorded at an agricultural fair in the Leningrad region in September. The second was found in pork by-products of the federal state which was delivered to a variety of regions in Russia.